Francisco: Why I Gave Sadiq Umar Minutes Against Mallorca

Francisco: Why I Gave Sadiq Umar Minutes Against Mallorca

Ibrahim Lateef

Real Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco has clearly articulated the rationale behind giving Sadiq Umar minutes in the match against Mallorca, BSNSports.com.ng has sourced. 

"I've seen him perform better than I anticipated over the past ten days; he brings unique qualities to our team. Sadiq creates space, and he's a player we need to reintegrate fully into our plans. I do not view him as merely a third or fourth striker."

This statement underscores Real Sociedad's strategic manoeuvring ahead of the January winter transfer market.

The club does not consider the Nigerian forward a key asset, as they have Mikel Oyarzabal, their standout striker, along with Orri Oskarsson, who was acquired for €20 million just over a year ago, specifically in the summer of 2024.

In this situation, Real Sociedad's best approach with Umar Sadiq is to grant him playing time, even in limited doses, to demonstrate that he is prepared to contribute and can be of interest to other teams actively seeking his services.

Real Sociedad aims to generate interest from potential suitors to facilitate the sale of Umar Sadiq in the upcoming winter transfer market.

The club is determined to offload a forward whose contract extends until June 30, 2028.

This long-term contract is a significant obstacle to a permanent transfer, as approximately €10 million remains unpaid, and no club has yet stepped up to meet that financial requirement, complicating the potential for Sadiq's exit.